The Detroit Lions experienced a significant coaching shake-up this offseason, losing both coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, to head coaching jobs. However, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t seem too concerned about the impact of these changes. In a recent appearance on “The Squeeze” podcast, Hutchinson downplayed the significance of losing Johnson and Glenn, suggesting that the team’s success is more dependent on the players in the locker room rather than the coaches.
Hutchinson acknowledged that the Lions’ coaching turnover is a natural consequence of the team’s success, stating that it’s what happens “whenever you have a lot of success in the NFL and you get a one seed.” However, he took it a step further, saying, “I don’t care who they bring… As long as we have the right guys in the locker room and those foundation guys on offense, on defense — you can roll anyone in there to call the plays.”
Hutchinson’s comments may be seen as a vote of confidence in the team’s core players, but they also raise questions about the importance of coaching in the NFL. While it’s true that players ultimately make plays on Sundays, coaching plays a crucial role in preparing and strategizing for games. Hutchinson’s dismissive attitude towards the coaching changes may be seen as overly simplistic, and his words may come back to haunt him if the team struggles to adapt to the new coaching staff.
It’s worth noting that Hutchinson’s comments may have been intended to convey a sense of confidence and stability within the team, but they may have been poorly chosen. As a high-profile player, Hutchinson’s words carry weight, and his comments may be seen as a reflection of the team’s attitude towards coaching. Nevertheless, only time will tell how the Lions adapt to their new coaching staff and whether Hutchinson’s confidence is justified.